Cryogenic storage system

Abstract

A cryogenic storage system basically includes a first cryogenic storage tank, a second cryogenic storage tank, a fluid transfer line and a cryogenic containment structure. The first cryogenic storage tank has a first predetermined capacity of liquefied gas. The second cryogenic storage tank has a penetration free bottom and a second predetermined capacity of the liquefied gas that is larger than the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank. The fluid transfer line is fluidly connected between the first cryogenic storage tank and the second cryogenic storage tank. The heat exchanger converts liquid exiting the first cryogenic storage tank to a higher pressure gas that is used as a motive force to move liquidized gas out of the second cryogenic storage.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A cryogenic storage system comprising:
 a first cryogenic storage tank having a first predetermined capacity of liquefied gas; 
 a second cryogenic storage tank having a penetration free bottom and a second predetermined capacity of the liquefied gas that is larger than the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank; 
 a first outlet line fluidly connected to a bottom of the first cryogenic storage tank and fluidly connected to an upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank at a point of the upper portion that is above a level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank for removing the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank, the first outlet line including at least one control valve to regulate the flow of the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank to the second cryogenic storage tank; 
 a second outlet line connected to the upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank at a point above the level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank and extending into the second cryogenic storage tank through the upper portion to a point below the level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank for dispensing the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank through the upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank; and 
 a cryogenic containment structure positioned to contain spillage of liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank; 
 the second cryogenic storage tank including an inner container having a penetration free bottom and an outer container having a penetration free bottom; 
 the first cryogenic storage tank containing the liquefied gas at a higher pressure than a pressure of the liquefied gas contained in the second cryogenic storage tank such that the liquefied gas exiting the first cryogenic storage tank is used as a motive force to move the liquefied gas out of the second cryogenic storage tank through the upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank via the second outlet line without using an internal pump. 
 
     
     
       2. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cryogenic containment structure has a containment capacity that is equal to or greater than the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       3. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the cryogenic containment structure has a containment capacity that is at least 110% of the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       4. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a heat exchanger operatively coupled to the first outlet line between the first cryogenic storage tank and the second cryogenic storage tank to convert the liquefied gas exiting the first cryogenic storage tank to a higher pressure gas. 
 
     
     
       5. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the first outlet line is also fluidly connected to the first cryogenic storage tank by a return line that is downstream of the heat exchanger, and 
 the at least one control valve includes a first control valve that is located upstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the return line dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       6. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the at least one control valve includes a second control valve that is located downstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the first outlet line downstream of the second control valve dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       7. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the at least one control valve includes a control valve that is located downstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the first outlet line downstream of the control valve dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       8. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 4 , wherein
 the heat exchanger is a pressure build coil. 
 
     
     
       9. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the second cryogenic storage tank is not provided with a cryogenic containment structure capable of containing spillage of the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank that is equal to or greater than 90% of the second predetermined capacity of the second cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       10. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 additional cryogenic storage tanks having penetration free bottoms and predetermined capacities of the liquefied gas that are larger than the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank, and 
 fluid transfer line fluidly connecting the first cryogenic storage tank to the second cryogenic storage tank, the fluid transfer line including at least one control valve to regulate the flow of the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank to the second cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       11. A cryogenic storage system comprising:
 a first cryogenic storage tank having a first predetermined capacity of liquefied gas; 
 a second cryogenic storage tank having a penetration free bottom and a second predetermined capacity of the liquefied gas that is larger than the first predetermined capacity of the first cryogenic storage tank; 
 a first outlet line fluidly connected to a bottom of the first cryogenic storage tank and fluidly connected to an upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank at a point of the upper portion that is above a level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank for removing the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank, the first outlet line including at least one control valve to regulate the flow of the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank to the second cryogenic storage tank; 
 a second outlet line connected to the upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank at a point above the level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank and extending into the second cryogenic storage tank through the upper portion to a point below the level of the liquefied gas within the second cryogenic storage tank for dispensing the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank through the upper portion of the second cryogenic storage tank; 
 a heat exchanger operatively coupled to the first outlet line between the first cryogenic storage tank and the second cryogenic storage tank to convert liquid exiting the first cryogenic storage tank to a higher pressure gas that is used as a motive force to move the liquefied gas out of the second cryogenic storage via the second outlet line without using an internal pump; and 
 a cryogenic containment structure positioned to contain spillage of the liquefied gas from the first cryogenic storage tank; 
 the second cryogenic storage tank including an inner container having a penetration free bottom and an outer container having a penetration free bottom. 
 
     
     
       12. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the fluid transfer line is fluidly connected to the first cryogenic storage tank by a return line that is downstream of the heat exchanger, and 
 the at least one control valve includes a first control valve that is located upstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the return line dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       13. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 12 , wherein
 the at least one control valve includes a second control valve that is located downstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the fluid transfer line downstream of the second control valve dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       14. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 the at least one control valve includes a third control valve that is located downstream of the heat exchanger, and that opens upon pressure in the fluid transfer line downstream of the control valve dropping below a predetermined pressure. 
 
     
     
       15. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the heat exchanger is a pressure build coil. 
 
     
     
       16. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 the first cryogenic storage tank is fluidly connected to the second cryogenic storage tank via the second outlet line to convey the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank to the first cryogenic storage tank, 
 the second outlet line includes at least one control valve to regulate the flow of the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank to the first cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       17. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the second outlet line is fluidly connected to a top fill inlet line arranged in the first cryogenic storage tank for supplying the liquefied gas to a top region of the first cryogenic storage tank, and a bottom fill inlet line arranged in the first cryogenic storage tank for supplying the liquefied gas to a bottom region of the first cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       18. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first cryogenic storage tank is fluidly connected to the second cryogenic storage tank via the second outlet line to convey the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank to the first cryogenic storage tank, 
 the second outlet line includes at least one control valve to regulate the flow of the liquefied gas from the second cryogenic storage tank to the first cryogenic storage tank. 
 
     
     
       19. The cryogenic storage system according to  claim 16 , wherein
 the second outlet line is fluidly connected to a top fill inlet line arranged in the first cryogenic storage tank for supplying the liquefied gas to a top region of the first cryogenic storage tank, and a bottom fill inlet line arranged in the first cryogenic storage tank for supplying the liquefied gas to a bottom region of the first cryogenic storage tank.